Auto creeper



B. E. RODIN Jul l, 1930.

AUTO CREEPER Filed Feb. 15. Q 1929 2 SheetsSheet 1 ATTORNEY;

July 1, 1930. a, EIYRODIN 1,769,548

AUTO CREEPER Filed Feb. 15, 1929 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 IIIIIIIIII'IIIIlullIIIIIII'I'IIIIIIIIIII'IIIIIIII ATTO RNEYJ' Patented July 1, 1930 Darren STATES eaTaNr caries I ."BENARD E. ROBIN, OF EAST CLEVELAND, OHIO AUTO onnnrnn Application filed Feb ruary 13, 1929i Serial No. 339,520.

This invention relates to devices known to the trade as auto Creepers and which are employed for the purpose of providing a support by means of and upon which the 5 users are enabled to move themselves to various positions beneathan automobile for for workmento use auto creepers as .con-- 15 structed heretofore; in fact, these devices have gone out of use for the reason stated. It' is the general purpose and object of my invention to construct an auto creeper which will enable a workman, while rest- 29 ing thereon, to pass beneath the running boards and under the other parts of automobiles as now constructed. A further object of the invention is to provide an auto creeper with an improved construction and arrangement of head rest; also to provide an improved construction of supporting frame and tray or bed.

I accomplish the foregoing objects in and through the construction and arrangement 30 of parts shown in the drawings, wherein Fig. 1 represents a plan view of my device; Fig. 2 a side elevation of the same; and

Figs. 3, 4 and 5 are details in section cor-- responding respectively to the lines 3'3, 4-4: and 5-5 of Fig. l.

Describing the parts by reference characters, 1, 1 denote, the side members and'2, 2 the end members of a rectangular frame, the said members being formed preferably of tubing and the side members being shown as extending the full length of the frame. Each end member 2 is shown as somewhat shorter than the width of the frame, the ends of the said end members being connected by brackets 3 with the side members, as by welding. Each bracket consists preferably of a fiat sheet metal body having one end transversely rounded, as shown at 4, whereby it is fitted on top of the adjacent end of the member 2, and having its opposite end longitudinally r'ounded, as shownat 5, to conform to the outer and upper sur-o face of the end of theadjacent side member. By the manner of connecting the side am end members, an upwardly-extending recess H isprovided adjacent each corner of the' frame, the bottom of each recess beingdefined by a bracket 3 which is in practically" the plane of the tops of the}: side and end members. g I

6 denotes generally a casterprovided with the usual forks 7 supporting a roller 8, the tops of the forks being connected to a casing 8 forming the outer race for a ball bearing, the balls in said bearing engaging the base 9 which is fastened to the bracket 3, as by bolts 10.

By mounting the casters in the mannerdescirbed, the supporting bases 9 for the same are (as will appear hereinafter) above the tray or bed. This construction enables me to provide a low, or under-slung, constructlon of frame,br1ng1ng the frameand the tray or bed thereon in close proximity to the surface over which the-creeper moves.

In practice, I am enabled to use rather largesized rollers in the casters, thereby reducing friction, and at the same time to provide a clearance of only one inch between the top of the trayand the surface over-which the rollers move.

Extending transversely of the frame and connected to the bottoms of the side members 1 are transverse-tubular supports ll.

These supports are preferably welded to the side members and carry the tray or bed 12, which may be made of fiber boardor other convenient material and which is conveniently retained in placeby being sprung beneath the overhanging inner central poitions of the side-members.

lVith this arrangement, thetray or bed is i supported in close proximity to the floor or other supporting surface 1 for the creeper,

enabling the user of the same to move himself beneath the running boards andother parts of the vehicle. The head rest which I employ also 00-' operates with the other parts to secure thisclearance between the user of the device and d the parts of the vehicle beneath which he isto move. Therest. comprises a tubular U-shaped frame work 13 having its ends Welded or otherwise suitably secured beneath one of the end members 2. This @tubular frame has welded or otherwise sefcured to; the bottom thereof. a sheet metal base lt on which 'ismounted a'pad 15 for the head. of theuser. The pad is applied to thebaselby slipping .it into the depression formed by the frame {and securing it; in

1 "placeby-sv screws 16 extending through the V base let and intothe base '17 of thepad'; the

latterbasebeing of any suitablematerial, such as fiberboard. The frameandhead rest can be painted and, when dry, the pad inserted in place in the manner described. By; constricting. {the head rest frame in the proper thickness togafford comfort t0} the is i userwilljbe provided, and atthe same time manner described I and attaching it beneath the .appropriateyend] member 2," a pad, of

. there jvvillbei amplefclearance between the head. olf v the uselrgand parts of-the vehicle s so bar. of; afl-length less;thafi the distance between said first bars and means attached to thetopi of said-ilast' bar andprojecting beyond the ends thereof andi each attached to thetop of one ofsaid firstbars the endsof saidjlast bar-being spaced from thesaid first bars, andcasters attached to the mder sidesof. said means; i

' bar of. alength less-than the distance betweensaid first bars; and means attached to 2. Ina creeper aipair a pair rof crossmembers connectlng bars, sa1d cross members each inclu said ing a thetop of said last'bar and projecting beyond the endsv thereof. and each attached to v the top of one of said first barsQthe endsiofi said last banbeingspaced from the said first-bars, 'all sai'd, bars being tubular and.

said means comprising; relatively thin'strips,

. .and castersrattachied to the undersides of 1 .SZLlCl means.

- 3. I n a creep'erfa "pair. of: spaced bars and agpair of cross members Qconnectingsaid bars, saidcross members each including a, bar of a length less than the distancebe tween said'first barsjand'.means attached to i j the topfof said last bar-andprojecting beyond} the ends thereofand each attached'to thetop of one offsaid'fir'st bars, the ends of i said lastbar being;spacedffromthe'said first bars, andia. U-shaped frame member, having the ends thereofr atta ched'to' oneof said saidlU-shapedmember. i '4. Inacreeper, apairof spacedzbars and.

of spaced b'ars a pair of cross members connectin said bars, said cross members each inclu ing a bar of-a length less thanthe distance between said first bars and means attached to the top of said last'bar and projecting beyond the ends thereof and each attached to the top of one of said first bars, the ends of said last bar being spaced from the said fiI'St bars, and casters attached to the under side of said means, there being a back rest carried'betweensaid pai'rof spaced bars and the upper surface thereof being made of a -material which is a poor conductor of heat.

5, In a creeper, a pair of spaced bars and a pair of cross members connecting said bars, said cross members each lncludlng a bar of a length less than the distance between said first bars andmeansattached to the top of said last bar and projecting, beyond the ends'thereof and each attached to the top of. oneof said first. barsythe ends o said'last bar being spaced-from the said first bars, casters attached to" the underside of said means, and a U-shaped frame member having the ends thereof attached to one of said cross-members and a head rest carried by said U-shaped member, said head rest being removably attached to said U-shaped member and the upper surface thereof being made of a material whichis a poor conductor of heat.

V In testimony whereof, I hereunto aflix my signature. .7 p g f .BENA RD E. RODIN.

cross :mefnbers" and'i'ajhead rest carried by I 

